War heroes' names projected onto Chester Castle

The names and images of local fallen war heroes are being projected onto the walls of Chester Castle every night this weekend (November 9-11) as part of the Armistice Centenary commemorations (Image: ANDREW CAIN)

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Tonight (Friday, November 9) saw the first night of the names being projected at the medieval castle, which served as a base for the Cheshire Regiment at the time of the Great War.

The 30-minute video also features images of Chester men in the trenches.

The names and images of local fallen war heroes are being projected onto the walls of Chester Castle every night this weekend (November 9-11) as part of the Armistice Centenary commemorations (Image: ANDREW CAIN)

Organised by Chester Civic Trust and city MP Chris Matheson , the event has been supported by local businesses and organisations.

Civic Trust spokesman Niall Macfadyen said “Chris Matheson approached the Civic Trust with a proposal that the city should mark this important event in our history and it was suggested to him that projecting the names of the fallen onto Chester Castle would be an appropriate tribute.

“We have been overwhelmed by the number of people and organisations that have come forward to offer support at such short notice.”

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First World War remembrance

Chris Matheson MP, who secured permission for the event from English Heritage, commented: “The best thing about this project is that it has involved many people who have come together to make it happen – including council staff, local councillors, local freelance designers, Big Heritage, local museums, charities and businesses - and of course the Civic Trust.

“It goes to show that when funding for this sort of thing has been cut to the bone, when we come together we can still do great things.”

Men of the 1st battalion of the Cheshire Regiment in a trench near Arras.

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The video will also be projected on Saturday, November 10, from 6-8pm and at the same time the military museum will open especially for the evening so people can visit their WWI exhibition.

On Sunday, November 11, the video will be projected from 6-8.30pm. At 8.30pm, after the last showing, live music from the First World War era will be performed. On the Saturday and Sunday, hot drinks will be available for purchase, with any profits going to Chester homeless charity SHARE as sadly many ex-service personnel end up on the streets.

After the 11th, the video will be on display at the military museum.

The University of Chester has generously granted use of their car park opposite the castle walls for the event.

If you come by car, please park on the main Castle car park and walk down to the smaller lower university car park via the propylaeum gate. The university will open the gate below the walls, allowing disabled access from the Little Roodee car park.

The names will be projected in silence, apart from a showing at 7pm on Saturday evening when the names will be read out, giving a chance for people with visual impairments to pay their respects while listening to the names.

The deadline for additions to the list of names is October 26. And the team is seeking images people may have of relatives who fell in the Great War (deadline October 19). Volunteers are also needed to steward the event.

Contact organiser Niall Macfadyen about any of these issues by emailing: armistice@macfadyen.net